Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
PLENUM FOR AIR SEEDING MACHINE AND METHOD OF USE
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.
62/928,546, filed
October 31, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to air seeding machines and,
more
specifically, to a plenum used to facilitate the flow of commodity through
conduits in an air
seeding machine.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Air seeders utilize airflow through conduits to direct a commodity such
as fertilizer
or seed to a desired location. Typically, the commodity is stored in a tank or
tanks on a cart
and selectively provided to a conduit to be further transported to a drill
assembly or otherwise
ultimately placed in the underlying soil. A fan or blower provides air flow to
transport the
commodity. A housing, splitter, or plenum may direct air flow from the fan to
the conduits,
and challenges may exist directing sufficient airflow from the fan to the
conduits.
SUMMARY
[0003] In an illustrative embodiment, an air flow system for use in an air
seeding machine
includes: a tank configured to store an agricultural commodity; a plenum
including: a body
portion including: a first end defining an inlet of the body portion, a second
end defining an
outlet of the body portion, a longitudinal axis extending through the first
end and the second
end, and a side wall extending around the longitudinal axis between the first
end and the
second end; and a bleed port positioned between the body portion of the plenum
and the tank;
and a blower including a plurality of fan blades configured to rotate about an
axis of rotation
to provide air flow to the tank.
[0004] In some embodiments, the second end of the body portion of the plenum
defines an
ellipse. In some embodiments, the first end of the body portion of the plenum
defines a circle
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he ellipse includes a major axis that is the longest diameter of the ellipse,
and the major axis
is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the plurality of fan blades.
[0005] In some embodiments, the first end of the body portion defines a first
plane. In
some embodiments, the side wall, when viewed in any plane perpendicular to the
first plane,
includes a segment extending at a constant angle relative to the longitudinal
axis between the
first end and the second end of the body portion.
[0006] In some embodiments, the second end of the body portion defines a
second plane,
and the first plane and the second plane are substantially parallel. In some
embodiments, the
first plane and the second plane are each perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis.
[0007] In some embodiments, the side wall extends around the longitudinal axis
between
the first end and the second end to form an interior of the body portion; and
the side wall
includes an aperture opening directly from the interior of the body portion to
the bleed port.
The plenum further includes a plurality of primary ports, each primary port of
the plurality
of primary ports includes a first end and a second end spaced apart from the
second end, and
the plenum further comprises a plurality valves each positioned in a primary
port and spaced
apart from the first end and the second end of the primary port.
[0008] In some embodiments, the plurality of valves are butterfly valves. In
some
embodiments, the butterfly valves include: a first pair of butterfly valves
having a first pair
of commonly-sized blockers coupled to a first rod that is configured to rotate
the first pair of
commonly-sized blockers to open and close the first pair of butterfly valves;
a second pair of
butterfly valves having a first pair of commonly-sized blockers coupled to a
second rod that
is configured to rotate the second pair of commonly-sized blockers to open and
close the
second pair of butterfly valves; and a third pair of butterfly valves having a
third pair of
commonly-sized blockers coupled to a third rod that is configured to rotate
the third pair of
commonly-sized blockers to open and close the third pair of butterfly valves.
[0009] In another illustrative embodiment, a plenum adapted for use with an
air seeding
machine includes: a body portion including: a first end, a second end opposite
the first end,
and a longitudinal axis extending through the first end and the second end,
and a side wall
extending around the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second
end to form an
interior portion of the plenum; a plurality of primary ports coupled to the
second end of the
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body portion; and a plurality of bleed ports coupled to the side wall of the
body portion. The
first end of the body portion defines an inlet of the body portion, the second
end of the body
portion defines an outlet of the body portion, and the side wall is formed of
a plurality of
segments each extending at a constant angle relative to the longitudinal axis
between the first
end and the second of the body portion.
[0010] In some embodiments, the second end of the body portion is
substantially
elliptically-shaped. In some embodiments, the first end of the body portion is
substantially
circularly-shaped. The first end of the body portion defines a first plane,
and the inlet of the
body portion is disposed in the first plane. The second end of the body
portion defines a
second plane, and the outlet of the body portion is disposed in the second
plane. The first
plane is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The first plane
and the second
plane are substantially parallel to one another.
[0011] In some embodiments, each primary port of the plurality of primary
ports includes
a first end and a second end spaced apart from the second end, and the plenum
further
comprises a plurality of valves each positioned in a primary port between and
spaced apart
from the first end and the second end of the primary port. The plurality of
primary ports
includes: a first pair of commonly-sized ports, a second pair of commonly-
sized ports
differently-sized than the first pair of commonly sized ports, and a third
pair of commonly-
sized ports differently-sized than each of the first pair of commonly-sized
ports and the
second pair of commonly-sized ports.
[0012] In another illustrative embodiment, a method of providing air flow to a
tank of an
air seeding machine, includes: rotating a plurality of fan blades about an
axis of rotation to
provide a uniform output of air flow to the inlet of a plenum disposed at a
first end of the
plenum; guiding a portion of the uniform output of air flow from the first end
of the plenum,
which defines a first plane, to a second end of the plenum, via a side wall of
the plenum
extending from the first end of the plenum to the second end of the plenum,
wherein the side
wall includes a uniformly-sloped cross-section when viewed any plane
perpendicular the first
plane; and guiding a portion of the uniform output of air flow through an
aperture in the side
wall of the plenum into a bleed port coupled between the plenum and the tank.
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[0013] In some embodiments, the method includes opening a valve positioned in
a primary
port coupled to the second end of the plenum to decrease a pressure in the
tank, wherein the
valve is spaced apart from the second end of the plenum; and closing the valve
to increase
pressure in the tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0001] The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of
obtaining
them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better
understood by
reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure,
taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0002] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an air flow system for an air seeding
machine
showing, in phantom, conduits that conduct air from a plenum to a tank of the
air seeding
machine;
[0003] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the plenum shown in Fig. 1;
[0004] Fig. 3 is a front view of the plenum shown in Fig. 2;
[0005] Fig. 4 is a side section view of the plenum and a blower shown in Fig.
1; and
[0006] Fig. 5 is a top section view of the plenum and the blower shown in
Fig.4.
[0007] Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding
parts
throughout the several views.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the
present
disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments described herein and
illustrated
in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It
will nevertheless
be understood that no limitation of the scope of the present disclosure is
thereby intended,
such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and
methods, and such
further applications of the principles of the present disclosure as
illustrated therein being
contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the
present disclosure
relates.
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[0009] An air flow system 10 is shown in Fig. 1. The air flow system is
adapted for use in
an air seeding machine. The air seeding machine may include a seeder having a
commodity
cart towed by a tractor or other prime mover. The commodity cart may have one
or more
tanks for storing seed, fertilizer, or another commodity to be applied to the
soil. The
commodity cart may also include a drill or implement that applies the
commodity to the soil.
The commodity cart may be a "tow behind" cart meaning that the cart follows
the drill. In
alternative arrangements, the cart may be a "tow between" cart meaning that
the cart is
between the tractor and drill. In yet a further possible arrangement, the cart
and drill can be
combined onto a common frame, and the cart and frame may be collectively
referred to as a
combo-drill.
[0010] It should be appreciated that the examples of the cart and the frame
described above
are non-limiting. The term "cart" should be broadly construed to include any
device towed
by a prime mover that is supported on one or more axles, such as a trailer,
wagon, cart,
implement, etc. Additionally, any number of tanks can be provided on the air
cart. The tank
or tanks can be any suitable device for holding a material or commodity such
as seed or
fertilizer to be distributed to the soil. The tanks could be hoppers, bins,
boxes, containers,
etc. The term "tank" shall be broadly construed herein. Furthermore, one tank
with multiple
compaiiments can also be provided.
[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the air flow system 10 includes blower 12, a plenum
14, and a
conduit system 16. The plenum 14 is positioned between the blower 12 and the
conduit
system 16. The blower 12 includes a plurality of fan blades 20 configured to
rotate about an
axis of rotation 22 to provide air flow through the plenum 14 to the conduit
system 16. The
conduit system 16 includes multiple conduits each configured to conduct air
therethrough.
The conduits are coupled to a tank 18 (or in some embodiments, tanks 18). In
the illustrative
embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the conduit system 16 includes six primary
conduits 24 and
three bleed conduits 26; however, it should be appreciated that any number of
primary and
bleed conduits may be provided, so long as the conduits adequately meet the
needs of the air
flow system 10.
[0012] In some embodiments, a commodity meter assembly 28 is located at the
bottom of
each tank 18 and delivers commodity from the tank 18 at a controlled rate to
the primary
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-23
conduits 24 and to the air flow stream moving through the primary conduits 24.
The three
bleed conduits 26 are arranged to conduct air flow from the plenum 14 to an
interior space of
the tank 18. The amount of air flow delivered to the tank 18 by the bleed
conduits 26 is
carefully selected and, in some applications, maximized to ensure that a
desired balance is
maintained between the airflow entering the tank 18 from the primary conduits
24 versus that
from the bleed conduits 26. As will be described in greater detail below, the
particular shape
and arrangement of the plenum 14 facilitates this desired balance of air flow.
[0013] In some embodiments, each primary conduit 24 carries commodity in the
air flow
stream to a distribution tower that is located on the drill. A distributing
manifold may divide
the flow of product into a number of secondary distribution lines. Each
secondary
distribution line may deliver commodity to one of a plurality of ground
engaging tools which
opens a furrow in the soil and deposits the commodity therein. A firming or
closing wheel
associated with ground engaging each tool trails the tool and firms the soil
over the product
deposited in the soil.
[0014] Referring now to Fig. 2, a perspective view of the plenum 14 is shown.
The plenum
14 includes a body portion 30 having a first end 32 coupled to the blower 12
and a second
end 34 opposite the first end 32. The first end 32 defines an inlet 36 of the
body portion 30.
The second end 34 defines an outlet 38 of the body portion 30. A longitudinal
axis 40 extends
in the axial direction (shown by the arrow 42) through the first end 32 and
the second end 34
of the body portion 30. The body portion 30 of the plenum 14 also includes a
side wall 44
extending around the longitudinal axis 40 and extending between the first end
32 and the
second end 34. The first end 32, the second end 34, and the side wall 44 each
cooperate to
define an interior portion of the of the plenum 14.
[0015] The side wall 44 of the plenum 14 defines a plurality of apertures 46
that each open
to a corresponding bleed port 48. In this arrangement, each bleed port 48 is
coupled to the
side wall 44. Further, each of the bleed ports 48 are coupled to and in fluid
communication
with a corresponding bleed conduit 26. In some embodiments, the bleed ports 48
and the
side wall are a single monolithic component. In the illustrative embodiment,
each of the
bleed ports 48 are commonly-size such that each bleed port has the same
diameter. The size
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and the placement of the bleed ports 48 (on the side wall 44) are carefully
selected to achieve
the desired amount of airflow through the bleed conduits 26 coupled thereto.
[0016] In some embodiments, the second end 34 of the body of portion plenum 14
includes
an end plate 50 having a plurality of apertures 52 defined therein. In some
embodiments, the
plate 50 covers the outlet 38. In other embodiments, the end plate 50 and the
side wall 44 are
a single monolithic component such that the outlet 38 is inclusive of each
aperture 52 of the
end plate 50. In any event, each of the apertures 52 opens to a corresponding
primary port
54. In this arrangement, each primary port 54 is coupled to the plate 50. In
some
embodiments, each primary port 54 and the end plate 50 are a single monolithic
component.
Further, each of the primary ports 54 are coupled to and in fluid
communication with a
corresponding primary conduit 24.
[0017] In the illustrative embodiment, the plenum 14 includes a first pair of
commonly-
sized primary ports 56, a second pair of commonly-sized ports 58, and a third
pair commonly-
sized primary ports 60. The first pair of commonly-sized primary ports 56
includes two
primary ports 54 each having a first diameter. The second pair of commonly-
sized primary
ports 58 includes two primary ports 54 each having a second diameter smaller
than the first
diameter. The third pair of commonly-sized primary ports 60 includes two
primary ports 54
each having a third diameter smaller than the second diameter. It should be
appreciated that
in other embodiments, the plenum 14 may include any number of primary ports 54
each
having various sizes, so long as the number and size of the primary ports
adequately provide
airflow to move commodity through the primary conduits 24 to the soil.
[0018] In some embodiments, each primary port 54 includes a blocker or a valve
configured to divert air flow away from a primary conduit 24. Each valve is
positioned in a
primary port 54, and each valve is spaced apart from a first end 53 and a
second end 54 of
the primary port 54.
[0019] In the illustrative embodiment, the first pair of primary ports 56
includes a first pair
of butterfly valves 62. The first pair of the butterfly valves 62 includes a
first pair of
commonly-sized blockers 64 each having a diameter substantially equal to the
diameter of
the first pair of commonly-sized primary ports 56. Each blocker 64 is coupled
to a first rod
66 that is configured to rotate the first pair of commonly-sized blockers 64.
The second pair
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of primary ports 58 includes a second pair of butterfly valves 68. The second
pair of the
butterfly valves 68 includes a second pair of commonly-sized blockers 70 each
having a
diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the second pair of commonly-
sized primary
ports 58. Each blocker 70 is coupled to a second rod 72 that is configured to
rotate the second
pair of commonly-sized blockers 70. The third pair of primary ports 60
includes a third pair
of butterfly valves 74. The third pair of butterfly valves 74 includes a third
pair of commonly-
sized blockers 76 each having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter
of the third pair
of commonly-sized primary ports 60. Each blocker 76 is coupled to a third rod
78 that is
configured to rotate the third pair of commonly-sized blockers 76.
[0020] It should be appreciated that each of the blockers 64, 70, 76 is
positioned in a
primary port 54. Further, each blocker 64, 70, 76 is spaced apart from the
first end 53 and
the second end 55 of the corresponding primary port 54.
[0021] A user may rotate any one of the rods 66, 72, 78 to close the pair of
corresponding
butterfly valves 62, 68, 74. In doing so, a user may divert air flow away from
the primary
conduits 24 and to the bleed conduits 26. In this way, a user may increase the
pressure in the
tank 22 by closing at least one of the pair of butterfly valves 62, 68, 74.
Increasing the
pressure in the tank 22 is beneficial at times because this prevents air flow
from the primary
conduits 24 from recirculating or entering the tank 22. This facilitates the
proper distribution
of commodity from the tank 22 into the air flow stream in the primary conduit
24 and ensures
that the air flow stream continues to move through the primary conduit 24 to
distribute the
commodity to the soil. Additionally, a user may rotate any one of the rods 66,
72, 78 to open
the pair of corresponding butterfly valves 62, 68, 74. In doing so, a user may
facilitate a
greater volume air flow into primary conduits 24. In this way, a user may
decrease the
pressure in the tank 22 and increase the pressure in the primary conduits 24
by closing at least
one of the pair of butterfly valves 62, 68, 74. Ultimately, a user may open
and close the
butterfly valves 62, 68, 74 to redirect airflow exiting the plenum 14 as
desired for the
particular application.
[0022]
Referring now to Fig. 3, a front view of the plenum 14 is shown with the
butterfly
valves 62, 68, 74 open such that the interior of the plenum 14 is visible. In
the illustrative
embodiment, the second end 34 of the body portion 30 of the plenum 14 defines
an ellipse
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-23
80. In other words, the second end 34 is substantially elliptically-shaped.
The first end 32
of the body portion 30 of the plenum 14 defines an circle 82. In other words,
the first end 32
is substantially circularly-shaped. The ellipse 80 includes a major axis 84
that is the longest
diameter of the ellipse 80, and the major axis 84 extends a distance 86. The
ellipse also
includes a minor axis 88 that is the shortest diameter of the ellipse 80, and
the minor axis 88
extends a distance 90 that is less than the distance 86. The major axis 84 is
perpendicular to
the minor axis 88. As shown in Fig. 3, the major axis 84 is perpendicular to
the axis of
rotation 22 of the fan blades 20, and such an arrangement optimizes or
maximizes uniform
airflow across the plenum 14.
[0023] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the first end 32 of the body portion 30
defines (or is
defined in) a first plane 92, the second end 34 of the body portion 30 defines
(or is defined
in) a second plane 94. The first plane 92 and the second plane 94 are
substantially parallel to
one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 40 of the plenum 14. As
illustrated in
Figs. 4 and 5, when viewed in any plane perpendicular to the first plane 92,
the side wall 44
includes a segment 45 extending at a constant angle a relative to the plane 92
between the
first end 32 and the second end 34 of the body portion 30. As such, when
viewed in any
plane perpendicular to the first plane 92, the segment 45 extends at a
constant angle (albeit a
different constant angle in each case) relative to each of the first end 32,
the second end 34,
and the longitudinal axis 40. It should be appreciated that the constant
angles described here
will differ based on which plane the angles are viewed in; however, what is
meant by constant
angle is that the magnitude of the angle does not change over the length of
the segment 45
when the plenum 14 is viewed in any one plane.
[0024] Several segments 45 make up the side wall 44. Therefore, while the
slope or pitch
of the side wall 44 varies as the side wall 44 extends around its longitudinal
axis 40, the slope
or pitch of the side wall 44 is constant along any one segment 45. It is for
this reason that the
side wall 44 may be referred to as a uniformly-sloped side wall 44. The
uniformly-sloped
feature of the side wall 44 is advantageous in comparison to undulating or
curved plenum
side walls because the uniformly-sloped side wall prevents irregular airflow
within the
plenum 14 and thus optimizes or maximizes airflow across the plenum 14 and to
the ports
48, 54.
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[0025] It should be appreciated that the parallel arrangement of the first
side 32 and the
second side 34 of the plenum 14 is particularly advantageous (especially when
used in
combination with the perpendicular arrangement of the fan-blade axis of
rotation 22 and the
uniformly-sloped side wall 44). This is because these features facilitate a
uniform distribution
of air flow across the plenum and to the outlet 38 of the plenum 14. In other
words, with this
careful arrangement, the force and path of the air flow toward each aperture
52 is substantially
the same, such that the problem of irregular or agitated airflow to various
primary ports 54 is
mitigated with the plenum 14.
[0026] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in
the drawings and
foregoing description, such illustration and description is to be considered
as exemplary and
not restrictive in character, it being understood that illustrative
embodiment(s) have been
shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within
the spirit of the
disclosure are desired to be protected. It will be noted that alternative
embodiments of the
present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still
benefit from at least
some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art
may readily devise
their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the
present
disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as
defined by the
appended claims.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-23
